From bucket list to 'booked it': A 4-step plan for making your travel dreams a reality

Raise your hand if this is a sentence you've uttered recently: "I'd really love to travel, but I just can't right now because of [insert generic reason: work, money, family, my cat]."

The pros/cons list of why it "just isn't the right time to travel" is extensive — but it's also a list of excuses, plain and simple.

A recent study conducted by Hilton Hotels & Resorts as part of the brand's Our Stage. Your Story. initiative, a movement helping people visualize and achieve their travel goals, found nearly a third of respondents resolved to travel to a new place this year. Participants cited self-enrichment as a primary motivator for wanderlust.

Though it may feel as if it's hard to find the "right" time to travel, the truth is that there's never a wrong time. Whether you're a young professional trying to reach the far corners of the world or a parent who wants to take your kids to explore the wonders of America’s national parks, creating a game plan in advance can turn those bucket-list fantasies into "booked-it" memories.

Step one: The planning journey

Getting travel plans off the ground takes time, research and a sense of adventure — but it's also part of the fun. Not to mention, planning is the most important part of ensuring a seamless, relaxing travel experience once you're on the road. Below are a few tips for getting started.

Create a travel bucket list: Set aside time to dive into the travel sections of your favorite publications or start filling up your bookmarks bar with some of your favorite travel blogs to get inspired. Take it one step further by actually cutting out or saving images of your dream destinations. A vision board can also be a useful, motivating visualization tool.

Coming up with concrete goals around your desired travel experiences will pay off: 86% of successful travelers say they set goals for themselves, and among these travelers, visualization is the number one method used to achieve goals.

Seek advice from fellow travelers: Connect with your social network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to seek suggestions about where and when to visit a particular part of the world, and keep an open mind about destinations you may not have heard of. Join a couple of Slack communities to ask fellow travelers around the globe for their suggestions.

It's also prudent to talk to well-traveled friends about their experiences, bucket lists and must-visit locations — advice from friends and family is one of the top sources for vacation ideas, followed by travel guidebooks, according to the Hilton survey.

Image: Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Hack your calendar. Planning takes time. Set up a dedicated Google Calendar for travel planning and, ultimately, your itinerary. Use a group calendar if you'll be collaborating with friends or family during the planning stage. Playing around with Labs features — such as customizable time ranges — can help you further streamline your planning. Lastly, check out "interesting calendars," such as major sports' teams schedules around the world or local festivals, to see if there are specific events that might be of interest during your travels.

Begin thinking logistically: Will you need visas for your travels? Will you need immunizations? What are the luggage requirements for the airlines you're considering flying? These are all questions that should come to mind, even in the early stages of your planning.

Create checklists and to-do lists with "must be done by X date" items. These handy apps can help you organize your time and turn you into a master list-maker.

Step two: Figuring out financials

Cost is always a prime concern for travelers. But here's the truth of the matter: Saving for travel comes down to prioritizing. Make travel a priority when it comes to day-to-day spending habits, and you will see results in your savings account.

Put technology to work: Using apps like Simple to save a little at a time — even a dollar or two a day — is sort of a digital "penny jar" that allows you to save without even realizing it or setting aside large chunks of change.

Image: Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Make small sacrifices: Forget the morning coffee shop run — there are plenty of ways to stay creatively caffeinated around the world, from matcha in Japan to mate in Argentina, that will be worth forgoing a $4 latte every day to save money that's better spent abroad. Pack lunch for work instead of eating out every day. Find creative ways to spend time together as a family without going out to fancy dinners, such as instituting a weekly game night or family workouts.

Rack up rewards: Consider a credit card that's designed for travelers. You'll rack up rewards that can be redeemed for flights or other travel perks.

Step three: Just book it

Feeling inspired? Have your finances in line? The next big step is to actually commit to your itinerary and book your flights and accommodations. Travelers today are seeking relaxation and stress relief as the number one benefit of travel — and you can start taking steps to reduce stress as early as the booking process.

Get savvy when booking flights: Book flights early for peace of mind. Ask around your network of fellow travelers, friends and coworkers to see if anyone has unused buddy passes through an airline, which may require flying standby, but can help you save big bucks. Another pro tip? Check flight prices online in a variety of different currencies, or use a VPN to trick sites into thinking you're browsing from another location. Occasionally, there are noticeable differences in flight prices if a site thinks you're browsing from the UK, Canada or elsewhere. If you'll be booking a flight and paying in euros, however, consider international credit card fees when calculating the overall cost of the flight in dollars.

Lock in your "must do" activities: Now that you have your travel secured, aim to book one main activity for each day of the trip. Selecting a few key activities – from a fun excursion to a trendy dinner reservation – will provide enough structure for your trip without adding pressure of an overly packed itinerary that needs to be followed by the hour. Make sure to book these activities well in advance to secure your top choices and ensure your vacation turns out just as you visualized – your vacation. If for you going to Italy means trying every flavor of gelato from Parma to Palermo and not setting foot in a single museum, then let that be your guiding compass to filling your itinerary with activities that will mean the most to you.

Get the most from your hotel: We know it can be overwhelming to book accommodations. But, deciding what’s important to you when it comes to a hotel can make it easier. Is it most important for you to be in the center of the action, or would an airport hotel make for easier jet-setting to multiple cities? Is your hotel going to be a destination in itself, or simply a place to rest your head? And, while it might be tempting to book a hotel through a last-minute deal site to score a bargain, consider the things that booking directly with a property can get you: free Wi-Fi, digital check-in, loyalty program perks such as executive lounge access or complimentary breakfast, and not to mention, a lower price!

Image: Hilton Hotels & Resorts

One of the biggest fear factors potential travelers share is the "regret of not traveling" in the future — and there's only one surefire way to ensure that doesn't happen. Just book it. It really is that simple.

Step four: Managing your OOO

Once you've poured hours into visualizing, researching and booking your trip, it's time to talk to your boss. While 40% of travelers feel they have "too much work" to actually take time off work, this doesn’t have to be the case. In fact, depending upon the type of travel in which you're interested, you may not even need to take full PTO.

Consider working remotely for a couple of days while traveling: Many companies today are amenable to remote work, particularly if it's just for a short period of time. If you’re short on PTO days, consider putting in a few hours from the pool. Sure beats the office!

Know your company PTO policies: If you'd prefer to use the vacation to forget about work completely, you'll want to know the realities of your company's PTO policies. Consider the following: Is anyone else on your team going to be out during the time period you'd like to travel? Is it during a particularly busy time of year at work? Does your company have a sabbatical policy, which may allow you to explore longer-term travel options? These are all questions to ask yourself, inquire about with HR and have an honest conversation with your boss.

Travel during a transition: Another option for getting around the "work/travel" balance problem: Travel in a "transition" period. In the middle of changing jobs? Graduating from your MBA program? Reward yourself and go on a worldview-altering journey to celebrate this new chapter of your life.

Image: Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Want to get a head start on planning your next incredible travel experience? Check out the Our Stage. Your Story. website to take the first step and begin the process of visualizing your next vacation.

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